General Synod to focus on need for evangelism

The next meeting of the Church of England's General Synod will focus on new ways to evangelise.

Papers released ahead of the February 15 - 17 gathering show half a day will be devoted to discussing how Christians can bring their faith to others.

Led by the Bishop of Liverpool the debate will focus on a report from The Evangelism Task Group, which Rt Revd Paul Bayes says is made up of "experienced evangelists" and people younger than the average age of the Synod.

He said: "It is relatively speaking younger than the average age of the Synod and it is a group of people who, relatively speaking, are not normally involved in the governance of the Church.

"In other words, it's people normally whose life is spent out on the cutting edge of things whom the Synod and the archbishops have asked to come in and share their experience.

"The core thing that the group work questions will do is to look at and encourage the Church to look at the diversity and the beauty of the moment of evangelism.

"To see what our resources as a Church, in all our diversity, and the resources of our scriptures, have to say to Christians who want to share their faith with their friends".

The task group on evangelism is half way through its four year session and is providing a half way update.

Bishop Paul said evangelism was "core and central" to the work of the Church and of Christian disciples.

"The fruit of evangelism is the growth of the Church," he added.

The report said that some vicars do not feel they have enough time to evangelise.